Mother’s Christmas miracle

What would you do if you were told you had six weeks to live? Jennifer Doolabh continued fighting for another year. Nancy El-Gamel reports.

LAST Christmas, Jennifer Doolabh was prepared to forgo vital cancer treatment to save her baby.

The Hamilton woman was not expected to live beyond Waitangi Day.

Thanks to a miracle she’s lived to see her son, Matthias, turn 1.

Doolabh, 28, was diagnosed with cancer at 25 and has undergone treatment since. When she became pregnant her oncologist told her to abort.

‘‘I knew I wasn’t going to give up Matthias . . . they said I was going to die,’’ said Doolabh.

Her doctor gave her six weeks to live.

‘‘It’s been a hard year but we never thought I would make it this far. I just keep on fighting. There are times I’ve wanted to give up, I’ve had enough of treatment, but really just keep on going.’’

Doolabh changed oncologists to one who doesn’t give her a time- frame, whom she described as optimistic and always making jokes.

‘‘We’re going day by day, week by week. We don’t know what is going to happen, but there is a lot of support out there.’’

Doolabh’s tumours in her brain, liver and lungs are shrinking, but her cancer is still terminal. She is writing a book about her life for her children.

‘‘They’ve all got boxes with special things, like blankets made out of my clothes, pictures, birthday cards and Christmas cards. It’s not hard for me because I know what is going to happen. I want them to have memories of me.’’

The public donated more than $17,000 via Doolabh’s Givealittle page. It is being used to fund alternative treatments and help pay for supplements.

Her husband, Aneal, said: ‘‘There’s a lot of people who try to scam you for the miracle cure and people get so desperate they’re willing to try anything.’’

Earlier this year Doolabh and her 6-year-old daughter Bailey met the Duchess of Cambridge, who had a cup of tea and talked about Doolabh’s health.

Doolabh said, ‘‘Some days I have good days, and some days I have bad. I’m just always tired but I’m grateful to God for every day I wake up. I just want to make it another year. I want to make it to another Christmas. I love Christmas.’’

Her husband said: ‘‘You should never give up. Just live every day as it comes. Be grateful for what you have. Spend time with the ones that you love and enjoy yourself.

‘‘I look at that little man and honestly it’s a miracle, it’s a blessing for us.’’

‘I look at that little man and honestly it’s a miracle.’